Ignition control



Oct. 9, 1951 D. s. GUILLERMIN IGNITION CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 16, 1946 Oct. 9, 1951 D. s. GUILLERMIN 2,570,797

IGNITION CONTROL Filed oct. 16, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTE R N EYB Patented Oct. 9, 19751 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITION CONTROL Dewey Sampson Guillermin, Conway, Pa.

ApplicationOctober 16, 1946, VSerial No. 703,573

'Claims.

,. 1 Y This invention -relates to improvements `in ignition lsystems f or internal combustion engines,

and more particularly yto the `provision of an attachment which effectively replaces ythe Vusual distributor interrupter.

It is an object fof the invention lto Aprovide an attachment which takes the Iplace .of the usual interrupter contact points.

A further object is to provide :an interrupting Adevice in which af-variable Apressure is .applied at point of contact by a vacuum.

A further object is to pr-ovide an kattachment for a distributor to vreplace the .usual interrupter, which attachment has means for cooling acondenser and points of contact .by Van air stream created by varying pressure in -the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

A further lobject is to provide an attachment for a distributor `which can be installed by unskilled persons in afew seconds.

A further Aobject is to provide aninterrupting device which reduces the amount of wire used in a distributor.

A further object is to provide an interrupting device having a closely lcoupled circuit, `and .in which the contact surfaces vare 4always parallel when vvtogether, the device having long life kand giving less trouble than the usual interrupter.A

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated `by `the accompanying drawings, forming aparthereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of an interrupting device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the ydevice showing its mounting on a distributor plate.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of 4a contact element used ln the device.

Fig. 4 is a plan view .of .another :contact element.

Fig. 5 is a plan viewiof a washer.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another washer.

Fig. 7 is an end view of a spring used in the device.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a roughened surface used to attach the device.

Fig. 9 is asectional view of .a modified vform.

Fig. 10` is a plan view of a .pressure block kused in the modified form.

Fig. 11 is a sectional viewof a modified form in which the device is air cooled, .and vacuum regulated.

Fig. 12 is a plan viewof a spring :used inthe modified .form shown in Fig. .11. f

(Cl. 12S-146.5)

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a contact disc with air holes used in the modied form shown in Fig. l1.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing the modified form of Fig. 11 connected to the intake manifoldof an internal .combustion engine.

Fig. 15 is a wiring `diagram of the circuit used in the device.

yReferring to the drawings, the interrupting device is shown to kcomprise a metallic shell I, in which is telesooped a non-metallic sleeve 2 of insulating material, and .in which is positioned a condenser l. Making Contact with the Condenser at one end is a disc 4 having a Contact point 3. Attached to the disc 4 is a wire I0 which is connected to a terminal II, leading 'to the primary coil I2 oi an induction coil (see Fig. 15).

A bracket I2 is provided to adjustably mount the casing I on the engine distributor. The bracket is held at one end to a roughened surface 8 to the distributor plate by a screw 4I) and extends substantially around the casing to hold Iit by virtue of spring in the metal of the bracket. The bracket carries a thumb piece I4 which can be pressed to open the bracket sufficiently to release the casing for adjustment. Thus in 'the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the casing I' is released by pressing the thumb piece le tothe right (viewing Figure 2). The casing can then be rotated or moved longitudinally. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the thumb Vpiece I'4 extends partially around thebracket I2 and down tothe plate ofthe distributor. When the thumb piece I4 is pressed at its upper end to the right (Figure 2) Ait rotates about its lower end and therefore the 'bracket I2 is opened along substantially its entire length Varound the casing rather than being bent adjacent its lower end. Likewise the screw 40 which holds the bracket I2 to the distributor plate can be loosened and the bracket vand -the casing pivoted about the screw 40 for an additional adjustment.

'The end I^3 -of the casing away from the disc I4 is in contact with the casing and is thereby grounded by the casing through the bracket I2.

Awasher-B spaces the discA from a disc 3, the washer being made fof insulating material. Cut from the Ydisc 3 isa spring varm I5 having acontact point 'I6 arranged to engage point 9. The arm I5 is angularly bent at I'I, and has attached thereto a fiber strip I8 which engages the rotating interrupter cam I9. The disc 3 engages the .casing i andconsequently is also grounded.

A washer 5 of .insulating material spaces disc 3 3 from a collar 2U in which is positioned a spring 2|, the ends of which pass through the casing I.

In operation, the fiber strip I8 Wipes over the cam I9 and makes and breaks contact between points 9 and I5 to energize and deenergize the primary coil I I (see Fig. in the usual manner employed in interrupters. The unit is compact, reducing the amount of wire used in a distributor, and the device can be quickly adjusted to regulate the position of the ber strip relative to the cam. In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 11, pressure of the contact points is regulated by hose connections to the intake manifold.

In the modiiied form of the invention shown in Figure 9 the disc 3 and the spring arm I5 are held in place by a cup 22, a collar and a spring 2|. This form of the invention can be further modied to provide for cooling of the contact points and for regulation of the pressure between the points by vacuum created in the intake manifold. This construction is shown in Figure 11.

As shown in Figure 11 the casing I is sealed at one end by a disc 24 which carries a short tube 25, the disc being held in the casing by a split ring 26 in a groove in the casing. The other end of the casing I carries a short tube 28. The tubes 25 and 28 are connected by hoses 2 and 25 to a coupling 30 which in turn is connected to the intake manifold of the engine. A spiral spring 23 is placed between the cup 22 and the disc 24 and tends to press the cup 22 inwardly towards the spring arm I5. Inward movement of the cup can exert a force against the disc 3 through the washer 5 and thereby increase the pressure between the contact points 9 and I. As is Well known, when an internal combustion engine is running slowly the pressure in the intake manifold of the engine is relatively low and this pressure increases as the speed of the engine increases. When a high vacuum (low pressure) is created in the manifold (and therefore in the tube 25), the cup 22 acting as a piston tends to move to the left (viewingFigure 11) thereby relieving pressure exerted by the cup against the disc 3. When the engine speed increases and the vacuum in the tube 25 decreases, the spring 23 m-oves the cup against the disc From this it follows that whenever the engine speed increases the pressure between the contact points 9 and I6 is increased. In Figure 11 the cup 22 is shown in the position which it assumes at high engine speed, i. e., when the pressure in the manifold is relatively high and the spring 23 is exerting its strongest force. When the engine is running slow the cup moves to the left, there being a slight clearance between the cup 22 and the disc 24. Necessarily the movement of the cup 22 is slight and therefore this clearance cannot be shown in Figure 11.

Vacuum created in the tube 28 will draw air through the device as shown by the arrows in Figure 11. This air passing over and around the contact points 9 and I6 tends to cool them.

It will be seen that there has been provided a simple and effective attachment for distributors to replace the usual interrupter. The device can be quickly attached, and reduces the amount of wire in the distributor. Also, it provides means for controlling the pressure of contact points, for cooling the condenser and contact points, thus insuring proper operation of the interrupter at all speeds.

The above description is tobe considered as illustrative and not limitative of the invention of which modifications can be made withoutV departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

l. In an attachment for interrupters, a casing, a grounded bracket supporting the casing and grounding the casing, a condenser positioned in the casing and having one end grounded by engaging the casing, a disc engaging the other end of the condenser and having a contact point thereon, a wire connected to the disc and passing through the casing and condenser, a second disc grounded by engaging the casing, a spring arm projecting from the second disc and having a contact point engageable with the contact point on the first disc, a fiber strip on the arm adapted to engage a cam, and resilient means in the casing bearing against the second disc.

-2. Acombined condenser and switch unit for use in an ignition circuit for internal combustion engines, comprising a condenser having a casing, means for connecting one terminal of the condenser to ground, a switch contact member carried by the casing and connected to the other terminal of the condenser, and a switch arm carried by the casing and movable into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the contact member, the arm being yieldably held in circuitclosing position and projecting from the casing a distance which renders it engageable by a timer cam to eect periodic opening movements of the arm in opposition to said yieldable means during rotation of the cam and means for mounting the casing so that the casing can be adjusted to adjust the relationship of the arm to the cam.

3. In an interrupting device for internal combustion engines, a metal casing, means for supporting and grounding the casing, a condenser positioned in the casing and having one end grounded by contacting the casing, a disc engaging the other end of the condenser and having a contact point thereon, a wire connected to the disc and adapted to be connected to the primary of an induction coil, an arm mounted within and projecting from the casing, and a c-ontact on the arm engageable with the contact point on the disc, said arm being movable to bring the points into and out of engagement, the outer end of said arm being adapted to engage an interrupter cam.

4. In an interrupting device for internal combustion engines, a metal casing, a condenser in the casing and having one end engaging the casing, means for grounding the casing and condenser, a contact point within the casing engaging the other end of the condenser, a spring arm projecting from the casing and having an end adapted to contact an interrupter cam, a contact point on the arm engageable with the rst contact point, and electrical connections for connecting the points to a primary of a spark coil'.

5. In an attachment for interrupters, a casing, a grounded bracketsupporting the casing and grounding the casing, a condenser positioned in the casing and having one end grounded by engaging the casing, a disc engaging the other end of the condenser and having a contact point thereon, a wire for connecting the disc and the primary of a spark coil, a second disc grounded by engaging the casing. and a spring arm projecting from the second disc and having a contact point engageable With the contactr point on the first disc, one end of the arm being adapted to engage a cam.

'6. Acombined condenser and switch unit for use in an ignition circuit ,for internal combustion engines, comprising a condenser having a casing, means for connecting one terminal of the condenser to ground, a switch Contact member positioned Within the casing and connected to the other terminal of the condenser. and a switch arm having one end positioned within the casing and movable into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the contact member, the arm being yieldably held in circuit-closing position and projecting a distance which renders it engageable by a timer cam to effect periodic opening movements of the arm during the rotation o the cam. 11

7. A combined condenser and switch unit for use in an ignition circuit for internal combustion engines, comprising a condenser having a cas'- ing, means for connecting one terminal of the condenser to ground, a switch contact member carried by the easing and connected to the other terminal of the condenser, and a switch arm having one end carried by the casing and movable into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the contact member, the arm being yieldably held in circuit-closing position and projecting a distance which renders it engageable by a timer cam to eiect periodic opening movements of the arm during the rotation of the cam.

8. A combined condenser and switch unit for use in an ignition circuit for internal combustion engines, comprising a condenser having a casing,

means for connecting one terminal of the condenser to ground, a switch contact member within the casing and electrically connected to one terminal of the condenser, and a switch arm pivotally mounted within the casing and electrically connected to the other terminal of the condenser said arm carrying a contact member movable into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the rst contact member upon movement of the arm, the arm being yieldably held in circuit-closing position and projecting a distance which renders it engageable by a timer cam to eiect periodic opening movements of the arm during the rotation of the cam.

DEWEY SAMPSON GUIILERMIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '116,475 Read Dec. 23, 1902 1,350,300 Crumpton Aug. 24, 1920 1,620,493 Schindler Mar. 8, 1927 1.628.339 Starr May 10, 1927 1,632,167 Bradford June 14, 1927 1,812,312 Ytterberg June 30, 1931 1,898,900 Ruppel Feb. 21, 1933 

